Dispensing hose and hose handling apparatus for mounting on dispensing pumps



2,240,458 DISPENSING HOSE AND HOSE HANDLING APPARATUS ox I April 29, 1941. A. L. GRISEI MOUNTING ON DISPENSING PUMPS Filed Dec. 2. 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR AUREDZ. 6B

p l 1941- A. L. GRISE DISPENSING HOSE AND HOSE HANDLING APPARATUS FOR MOU NTING 0N DISPENSING PUMPS 4 Filed Dec. -2,. 1940 2 Sheets Sheet 2 INVENTOR ALFMB L 6 BY 7W ATT NEYS Patented Apr. 29, 1941 nrsrr-m'smo nose nose mum msasrus FOR MOUNTING N nrsrsss- ING PUMPS Alfred L. Gris, Springfield. Mass., asslgnor to Gilbert & Barker Manufacturing Company, West Springfield, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application December 2, 1940, Serial No. 368,206 (or 221---95) 10 Claims.

My invention has .to do with improved hose handling apparatus particularly adapted i'or mounting on a service station dispensing "pump." The so-called pump commonly includes many apparatus elements closely packed in a display casing. Real eiiort has been made to give a good appearance to the display casing. The casing is needed, like the body of an automobile, to protect the mechanism covered by it. Since the casing is what the publlcsees, its appearance is particularly important. The appearance-ot anything mounted on the pump casing is likewise important. In this art much effort has recently been made Ito produce improvements inthe hose and hose handling apparatus for these dispensing pumps. It is this kind of improvement to which my invention is directed.

Ordinarily the hose. about ten feet long with a delivery nozzle abom twenty inches long at the end, is hung in a single loop outside and on one side of the pump Thishose length is about the limit that can be neatly and simply hung in one loop outside the pump casing. The pump casing is not high enough to carry much more hose mounted onit in that simple, neatappearing manner.

The problem ariseswhen substantially morethan the ten feet of dispensing hose is wanted.

In various ways the extra hose length has been provided in prior art, devices. One way is to removably store extra hose length inside the pump casing. My particular problem arises when there is not room in the pump casing to store extra hose length desired for use. For example,

I may desire to use the same size and style of pump casing to contain apparatus for dispensing gasolineand apparatus for dispensing Diesel englne oil. The mechanism desired for the latter apparatus takes up more room in the casing than does the apparatus for dispensing gasoline. The general reason is the higher rate or delivery wanted for Diesel engine fuel. Therefore, larger parts are put in the same size casing. There isthen no room to handle extra hose length in the casing with apparatus for dispensing Di 1 engine fuel. This is Just one specific example i a circumstance in which my invention is par-l ticularly useful. It is for suchcircumstances that my particular disclosure has been designed. It will satisfy similar needs for dispensing pump use.

The invention in this and other aspects will be disclosed in suilicient detail by the accompanying drawings and the description of them.

Fig. 1 is a side .view'oi the dispensing apparatus with the hose hung at one side of the casing. all as it appears, ready for use:

Fig. 2 is a section on line 2--2 of Fig. 1 but. omitting the showing of apparatus inside and of Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view of some parts shown in the arrangement of Fig. 5 and including other parts not shown in Fig. 5.

As shown in the drawings, see Fig. 5, for the purpose of illustrating a specific use 01' the lnvention, the hose handling apparatus is arranged as a conversion unit. That is the "pump" casing, with operative parts inside (most 01 which are not shown), is indicated as it is used in a' prior art commercial form of widely used pump but modified enough to adapt the casing for use with the improved hose handling apparatus. In this arrangement, without materially changlng the pump," I provide ,ior combination with it, elements of my improved hose handling apparatus; As will be explained. one

use of the apparatus disclosed specifically is for a hose turret conversion unit. The pump-ot the priorart maybe made at the factory or taken as found already in use in the held and with little trouble and'a little modification in its structure be adapted for incorporating my improved hose handling apparatus. In this sense.

I have disclosed a hose turret conversion imit for prior art pumps. With itI can convert a prior art "pump having old-fashioned hose handling apparatus to one having my improved hose handling apparatus, conveniently, with relatively small expense; and with full regard for 'the external appearance of the pump." The structure as disclosed in the drawings is particularly adapted for adding my improvement at the factory assembly line to what are essential-'- ly standard forms of pumps or to such-pinnps"- by conversion of pumps already in.- the field.

The main casing 01' a prior art "pump" is indicated in Fig. 2. It has side panels 3 fastened to corner posts I. On the latter, most elements of the "pump apparatus are mounted, all as is very well known. 4t the top, the casing ordi-' narily has a decorative cover, wall, or hood joining the side walls. The hoodis frequently made with a centr'al'pedestal to hold a light.

- of space 24 and along the rotatab In my casing structure the top wall or hood 4 is joined to the side walls I as in the prior art. At its inner edge it-has the large central opening I, see Fig. 5. Around this opening is mounted the annular platform 2, on which base cast-.

ing 6 of my turret construction rests. This casting is suitably bolted at several points, as at I, to the inner edge of platform 2. The platform is supported by an annular skirt 8 extending to corner posts 5 and there fastened for support as by fasteners 8'. The skirt underlies hood 4 in overlapping position. An annular depression 9 in the hood underlies an annular sheathing plate In between the platform 2 and the hood 4, the appearance generally being as if the hood extended to the platform. The inner margin of plate ||l rests on the platform 2 and a packing H is placed between the plate It and the casting 6. Thus, the turret base casting is mounted in the hood opening in the fashion of a hydrant and is supported from the comer posts, all with neat, simple appearance at this connection of the turret through the top or hood of the pump casing.

v The casting 6 has a central bowl |2 extending down iar enough to make an inside pipe connec- I tion 30 with the liquid supply discharge pipe 3|.

- This pipe 3| is usually directed to a point in the side of the casing wall but is here directed, as shown, to a central point in the top of the casing. The bowl has an upwardly extending and rotatable outlet pipe |3 for the liquid. Pipe l3 rotates in bearings mounted in t frame |4 resting on casting 6 to which it is-bolted with gasket between as at I5, and other like bolts. The bearing plug I8 is screwed in at the bottom. The pipe collar I1, rigidly but detachably fastened as indicated, bears against the under 'side of plug l6 and acts as a, thrust bearing against upward movement of the pipe in the turret movement. Pipe l3 rotates with turret casting l8, being threaded in at the bottom.

I provide a special-structure andarrangement -to guard against leaks of the inflammable liquid fuel along the outside of the rotatable discharge pipe section l3. The stationary part of the turret pedestal frame I4 is hollow. It supports the two spaced bearings I9 and I6, thelatter being the plug. These bearings are conveniently madeof brass composition bearing metal. On the top side of the lowerone and the bottom side of the upper are two steel cups 20., Each contains an annular ring 2| of molded rubber composition suitable for packing. Outside of each ring is a metal follower plate 22. Between these plates is a coiled spring 22. When the parts are assembled on the pipe as shown, and. the plug I screwed home as indicated, the spring is ef-.

feetively compressed. Then the constantly ap-,

plied spring force urges the packing rings into sealing contact with the rotatable pipe.

As an additional safeguardag' t leaks on pipe to the atmosphere I provide a special liq d drain from this space. It is shown in Fig. 6. Small cored passage 28 leads from the bottom of space 24 through parts i4 and O to pipe 26. The latter has a drain pipe connection. to the sump chamber 21 of. the air separator. Such chamber is connected to the atmosphere by vent pipe 2!}. When the pumpis'running, a float valve connection 29 with the suction side orthe pump prevents fllling a'sump'cha'mber 2'lfull. When the pump is idle, the sump chamber. has sufllcient capacity to hold an the liquid that can possibly drain t support or hollow into it from pipe 26. Thus, no liquid from any leak past the rotatable pipe, located as shown near the top of the system, can ever unintentionally pass out to the atmosphere where vent 28 5 opens at the hole where the hose nozzle end is usually stuck in from its support. On the contrary, liquid from any such leak is drained back to the air separator. From it such liquid is taken again into the pump at the suction side. Thus, if

10 liquid leaks, it is merely circulated through'a by-path to joinagain the main stream.

The arrangement just described, in the special environment, is a detai1 feature. It is particularly important and useful for this reason: One of the difficulties in providing a turret arrangement for passing inflammable liquids through the top of a pump casing to a dispensing hose is the danger due to leaks. Where the pipe connections rotate, such liquids tend to creep along the bearings.- The latter of course tend to wear. The problem of packing therotatable joints is important. Even when that problem is given every possible attention there is the further problem to add insurance against theresults of leaks.

My special means takes care of both these problems. The result is that some obvious objections to using a turret top delivery piping system to feed a flexible delivery hose are avoided.

As mentioned above, pipe l3 rotates with tur- 0 ret casting I8, .into which the pipe is threaded.

Casting l8 has a lower projection extending into opening '32 of the table support H to form a bearing between frame and casting. A ball race 33- in the top of the frame'supports the castin for its rotation. A skirt 34 is attached to the annular projection 35 around the base of the casting and covers frame l4 with a relatively rotatable 'enclosing wall. a

The inlet passage into. the chamber of turret 4.0 bowl I8 is provided with threaded nipple 36 which-extends from the passage to the liquid whirling means 31.' Liquid discharged into the center of the whirling means 31 is deflected by thecurved blade 38 (Fig. 4). This gives to the 5 liquid a rotary movement in the turret bowl.

Such flow movement of liquid is made visible through glass wall 40, the visibility being aided by the stub post 39 as'a background. All the details of the specific visible indicator are not v described as .such devices may take different forms and-the indication of one will be understood in this art. The transparent cap or wall 40 of the turret top rests on an annular support 4| of the casting. Clamping member 42 is 5 threaded on the support 4| and holds the lip 43 of wall 40 tightly on the support. Member 4| is bolted securely to the. top of casting It as by bolts 44. Gaskets are fitted between connecting parts to give tight joints and insure against 0 leakage.

Liquid is-discharged from the bowl through outlet 48 to the flexible hose 49, the inner end :of which is joined by coupling ill threaded into the outlet. 'The hose hangs in a loop outside 05 the casing, see Fig; l, terminating in nozzle 5| which is placed on a nozzle support 52 at the side of a casing wall when not in. use. To hold with the hose loop held by it. p

In operation the nozzle is taken from its support and the hose carried to the dispensing point.

By reason of the greater length of hose and the 7 rotating turret chamber the dispensing range is by one flight of the usual outside loop extending upwardly to the rotatable turret member II, but also by reason of the rotation of the member itthe center of the dispensing radius at the side of self. A central point of rotation permits a circuiar area with a radius substantially equal to the length of the hose itself or to the base of the angle made by the casing and the hose. With the ordinary "pump" generally in use at the present timeqth e hose is attached to one side of the casing, thusrestricting the service distance on the 09mm? side to materially less than the length of hose. The hose must bend around the casing to reach the dispensing point which notonly shortens: the eflective length of hose but also increases hose wear. With the apparatus here disclosed the hose may be carried in any. direction from the pump without necessarily bending it vto; reach the dispensing point. Thus, hose wear is a minimum, while a given length of hose is used with an increased effective radius of dispensing hose connected as in the prior art without the turret arrangement.

In the preferred embodiment of my hose han-.

dllng apparatus the length of flexible hose used and height of turret are'regarded as of some im portance. A simple increase in hose lengthby itself will, of course, increase the dispensing range, yet, unless care is taken in disposing of the hose properly, a "pump will acquire a sloppy appearance or be inconvenient vfol-handling from the operator's point or view. (lonsequently, I prefer the turret high enough so the depending hose will clear the edge or the hood conveniently as the hose is carried around the casing in any direction and the turret bowl is rotated in ordinary dispensing operations; The hose is preferably that length which will bring the bottom of a loop substantially even with. the base of the casing as in Fig. l. The apparatus is then of neat appearance and will remain so. .Y'I'he operator is able to carry the hose in any direction conveniently without the annoyance of catching the hose on the casing hood or causing a word spot on the hose or on the casing by such rubbing contact.

Another feature of my apparatus to be emphasized is the provision for one visible liquid discharge indicator as furnished by glass 40 which can be seen from any position around the casing. The transparent wall of the turret bowl with an indicator fixed centifally at the top takes the place ofv the two flow indicators commonly found in nearly all modern pumps. These latter are at opposite sides of the casing and generally project a little from the casing walls so that the customer can have a visual indication of the flow of clear liquid through the system to the nozzle from most points at which he might be watching the operation. Having two such indicators involves a comparatively expensive apparatus for the liquid to be whirled for both indicators during dispensing.

In the modification illustrated in Fig. 3 the turret device is shown attached to a "pump structure with no change in the casing itself. This form may be used in such instances of converting pumps" already in operation at a station where the advantages gained by an increase in hose length and revolving turret are desired without going to the expense of changingthe "pump casing hood structure itself. The turret unit may be by elbow piping n to the discharge pipe at the side of the casing from'which the flexible operation as compared to hose is usually hung in a loop. The turret ex tends above the pump casing and operates with the casing instead of being disposed centrally of the casing. The additional drainage line of Fig. 5 for leakage around the rotating pipe I! of'this form can follow the line of elbow pipe II to the casing and from there be connected to the air separator sump as above outlined, if this draining feature is wanted. In this Fig. 3 similar parts are primed as compared to Fig. 5. It will be understood that the hose is hung up when not in use as in Fig. 1, and the piping it emerges from the casing adjacent the hose nozzle support.

The foregoing description will enable a manufacturer of service station "pump" equipment to make and use the invention, The structure of the drawings is disclosed in considerable'detail so far as the new features are concerned. Such detail can of course be varied widely withinthe range of their fair mechanical equivalents and theihvention now disclosed can be embodied in various different. forms. The improved equipment disclosed for a long dispensing hose on a service station pump will be found particularly useful in these respects. The long base; will be easy to use without tiring the operator; its mu length; will be available for service at any radius; its swiveled connection to the liquid supply is not likely to leak, but if it does, the leak is vented and the liquid re turned to the supply y tem: and these new ad vantages are attained while a desired simple out side pump casing and hose neatness are retained.

The invention and its scope are pointed out in casing connecting the liquid supply means to the hose, said mechanism consisting of a rotatable turret member in the form of a bowl having a transparent wall therein to indicate its fullness of liquid and a wall through which the inner end of the hose is connected and carried, a support for said turret member having bearings fol-the members rotation, a-depending pipe fastened in the bottom of said bowl and rotatable therewith, bearing supports for said pipe, a stationary-bowl member at the bottom of said rotatable pipe, the said liquid supply means having its discharge point in the latter bowl, said hose being long enough to reach a delivery point at a substantial distance from the base of the casing and adapted by rotation of said turret member to give delivery up to the limit of such distance and along any radius from the base of the casing. 2. The structure and arrangement of claim 1 in combination with a delivery nomle at the outer end of the hose and a support for said nozzle near the upper end of the casing, the length of the hose being such that when the nozzle is'mounted on its support the hose hangs in one loop alongside the casing with one flight of the loop extending upwardly for its'connection to be carried by the rotatable turret member.

3. The structure and arrangement ofclaim 1 characterized by the addition inside the rotatable turret member bowl of liquid whirling means operable by pressure of liquid fed to the bowl from the said depending pipe in its bottom and indicating means'adiacent the transparent wall of said bowl adaptedto make the whirling of the liquid'easily visible from the outside.

4 A long hose in combination with hos handling apparatus adapted for mounting on the casing of a service station pump to increase conveniently the dispensing range of such puinps for liquid. fuel to automobiles, said apparatus consisting of a chambered pedestal frame member with means to clamp it centrally at the top so as to extend above the pump casing, a.rotatable bowl with its base mounted on bearings and overlying the top of the pedestal frame, an enclosing wall mounted as a casing skirtto hide the pedestal frame and adapted to appear as a relatively short upward central extension of the pump casing, said rotatable bowl having means to connect with, support, and carry the inner end of the hose, means mounted on said bowl to indicate the presence and the flow of liquid therein the visual .indicating part of said means being mounted at the top of said bowl, a pipe, with hearings in said pedestal frame, mounted to extend therethrough and rotate with saidbowl, means at the bottom of said frame adapted to connect said pipe with the liquid supply from the dispensing pump, said hose handling apparatus combined with its long hose being adapted for mounting on a dispensing pump in the fashion of a hydrant extending centrally from the top of the pump casing.

5. A long hose in combination with hose handling apparatus adapted for mounting on the casing of a service station pump to increase conveniently the dispensing range of such pumps for liquids to automobiles, said apparatus consisting of a pedestal frame member with means at its base to clamp it in position centrally at the top soar; to extend above the pump casing, a rotatable bowl mounted at the top of said frame, means to carry liquid from inside the pump casing through said frame andv into said rotatable bowl, the latter having means to connect with, support, and carry the inner end of the hose, said bowl being adapted to move around bodily with its hose connection as the hose is pulled to reach a dispensing point, an enclosing wall to hide the pedestal frame and adapted to appear as a relativelyv short upward central extension of but narrower than the main pump casing, whereby the simple appearance of a pump casing may be re'-" I. The combination of a visible liquid discharge, indicator apparatus adapted to serve also as hose handling apparatus, said apparatus including a supporting means with bearings and a liquid passage therethrough,

' range of service while being fed from said cham her, the whole combination being adapted for at taehment to a liquid dispensing apparatus and for use as the liquid discharge indicator and hose 9 handling apparatus in dispensing operations.

tained and its dispensing range conveniently in-' creased uniformly all around a service pump.

6. In liquid dispensing equipment, the combination of a hose andhose handling apparatus, said apparatus including a rotatable support for the inner end of the hose and adapted to follow the hose when the latter is moved to any radius line for dispensing over a maximum range with' a given length of hose, said support having a chamber therein connected for liquid delivery to the hose, liquid supply means connected to said chamber, and means mounted in said chamber including a transparent wall portion of the chamher to indicate to the outside both the liquid fullness of the chamber and whether or not liquid is moving therethrough, all constructed and arranged for said rotatable support to serve a hose carrying means and as part of a visibe liquid discharge indicator during dispensing operations.

D 8. In a display casingfor liquid dispensing apparatus, the combination of a casing, a dispensing hose outside, and liquid supply means inside the casing, a rotatable hose feeding device mounted on the casing and carryingthe inner end of the hose for rotation with it, and having a pipe also carried to rotate with such device and connected to feed the liquid to it from the supply means, bearings around said pipe to support said pipe for rotation, a liquid collecting chamber around the outer side of said bearings, and a vented return means for any liquid leaking past said bearings back to the liquid supply means for delivery with the main supply through the hose, all adapted to prevent liquid leaking outside the rotary mounted hose feeding device. v

- 9. The combination, of a liquid fuel dispensing hose and means to mount it on a dispensing pump, said means comprising a supporting member providing vertically spaced bearing supports, a rotatable pipe and bearings therefor mounted in said supports, oppositely disposed pressure packing members one around each bearing, an interposed compressed coiled spring between said members to constantly force them into functioning position, a hollow turret member rigidly connected to the top of said pipe to receive liquid from and rotate with it, said hose having its inner end connected by the turret member to said pipe, the turret member having .a pipe fitting.

attachment to said hose end to carry the latter with it, the said combination of parts forming "50,

equipment adapted for attachment as a unit to a dispensing pump. r

10. 'In a hose handling apparatus, a display casing, a short vertical casing-like extension projecting centrally from the top wall of the casing, a transparent cap member on the extension top, a rotatable section of said extension carrying said cap, flow indicating means inside said cap, a dis.- pensing hose with its inner end mounted on said rotatable section, and liquid supply means inside the casing connected to feed said hose through said extension and cap member, whereby the hosemay be carried around said casing as its inner end swivels with said cap and the flow to the hose is indicated through said cap.

' GRISE.

dispensinghose and a 

